Indian Shooters win 43 medals at ISSF Junior World Championship
The 2021 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun was held at Lima in Peru. The Indian shooters claimed a historic win with 43 medals to stand atop in the medal table. These included 17 Gold, 16 Silver and 10 Bronze medals. The USA finished second on the medal table with 21 medals including six gold, eight silver and six bronze.
Meanwhile, Manu Bhaker created a milestone record of becoming the first Indian shooter to win the highest number of medals in a single edition of the ISSF Junior World Championships, with as many as five medals. These included 4 gold medals and a bronze.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- ISSF Headquarters: Munich, Germany;
- ISSF Founded: 1907;
- ISSF President: Vladimir Lisin.
Former SBI Chief Rajnish Kumar appointed as Chairman of BharatPe
The fintech startup, BharatPe has appointed former State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumar as the Chairman of its board. The former SBI chairman will work closely with the top officials of the company on key business and regulatory initiatives. He will also take part in defining BharatPe’s long-term and short-term strategy.
As the Chairman, Kumar will be responsible to:
- Mentor the BharatPe team in formulating a short-term and long-term strategy
- Work closely with the board and executives on regulatory matters
- Advise and counsel the management on corporate governance
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Executive Officer of BharatPe: Ashneer Grover;
- Headoffice of BharatPe: New Delhi;
- BharatPe Founded: 2018.
PM Narendra Modi addresses 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the 28th NHRC Foundation Day programme, through video conferencing on October 12, 2021, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NHRC chairperson. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is a Statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993, for the promotion and protection of human rights and dignity of the marginalised.
The Prime Minister concluded by mentioning the human rights of future generations. He emphasized that with measures like International Solar Alliance, renewable energy goals and Hydrogen Mission, India is rapidly moving in the direction of sustainable life and eco-friendly growth.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairperson of NHRC: Justice Arun Kumar Mishra;
- NHRC Headquarters: New Delhi.
Alexander Schellenberg appointed Austria’s new Chancellor
Alexander Schellenberg was elected as Austrian Chancellor after the resignation of Sebastian Kurz. Sebastian Kurz resigned because of his involvement in a corruption scandal. Apart from Alexander, Michael Linhardt joined in for the role of foreign minister. He was the former ambassador to France. The appointment of both persons helped in ending the crisis within the Austrian government, the Austrian People’s Party and Green Party Coalition.
Alexander Schellenberg is a graduate from the College of Europe. He was a career diplomat & became a mentor to Sebastian Kurz when he became a foreign minister. Kurz selected him as the director of strategic foreign policy planning as well as the head of the European department.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Austria Capital: Vienna;
- Austria Currency: Euro.
IEA invites India to become full-time member
International Energy Agency (IEA) has invited India to become its full-time member. This membership invitation was given in the light that, India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer. If this proposal is accepted, it will require India to increase its strategic oil reserved to 90 days requirement.
Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri held discussions with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. During the discussion, IEA executive director invited India to deepen its cooperation with IEA by becoming its full member.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- International Energy Agency Members: 30 (eight associate nations);
- International Energy Agency Full membership: Colombia, Chile, Israel and Lithuania;
- International Energy Agency Headquarters: Paris, France.
Germany launches World’s First Self-Driving Train
German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn and industrial group, Siemens launched the first automated & driverless train of the world. The self-driving train was launched in the city of Hamburg. This project is being developed by ‘Siemens and Deutsche Bahn’. It is being dubbed as “world-first”. The project is part of a 60-million-euro modernisation of the rapid urban rail system of Hamburg. These automated trains will offer a reliable service without laying a single kilometre of new track.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Germany Capital: Berlin;
- Germany Currency: Euro;
- Germany President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier;
- Germany Chancellor: Angela Merkel.
EESL appoints Arun Kumar Mishra as CEO
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings under the Ministry of Power has announced the appointment of Arun Kumar Mishra as chief executive officer (CEO) on deputation. He will be responsible for EESL’s operations across the nation.
About the EESL:
EESL, an energy service company (ESCO), is among the earliest entrants in India’s energy efficiency market estimated at around ₹74,000 crores and is presently running the world’s largest domestic lighting programme. With India rolling out the world’s largest electricity smart metering programme, EESL and IntelliSmart, its joint venture with India’s quasi-sovereign wealth fund National Investments and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), have been present in India’s smart meter programme space.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- EESL Headquarters location: New Delhi;
- EESL Founded: 2009;
- EESL Chairman: K.Sreekant.
Dr Randeep Guleria bags 22nd Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award
The Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presented the 22nd Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence to the eminent pulmonologist and Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Guleria at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas. He lauded Dr Guleria’s devotion to duty and in nurturing the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders in AIIMS.
Dr Randeep Guleria’s stellar role in creating awareness about the pandemic in recent times has not only been reassuring for all of us but has also soothed the frayed nerves of every person who has met, seen, or heard him speak on multiple forums on various aspects related to COVID 19. Dr Guleria is widely respected for his ground-breaking work in his chosen field and is known to be a highly efficient and dedicated hospital administrator, as well.
India announces $200 million line of credit for Kyrgyzstan
India announced a $200-million line of credit for Kyrgyzstan and signed an agreement to carry out small but high impact projects for community development in the Central Asian state. The two initiatives were among several measures announced by external affairs minister S Jaishankar at the end of a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held “constructive” talks with the top Kyrgyz leadership to boost bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and discussed global issues like Afghanistan. Jaishankar, who arrived as part of his four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia with an aim to further expand bilateral ties with the three Central Asian countries, called on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and discussed with him expanding economic between the two countries.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Kyrgyzstan Capital: Bishkek;
- Kyrgyzstan Currency: Kyrgyzstani som;
- Kyrgyzstan President: Sadyr Japarov.
India’s retail inflation eases to 4.35% in September
Retail inflation declined to 4.35 per cent in September, mainly due to lower food prices, according to government data released. The Consumer Price Index-based (CPI) inflation was at 5.30 per cent in August and at 7.27 per cent in September 2020. As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the inflation in the food basket eased to 0.68 per cent in September 2021, significantly down from 3.11 per cent in the preceding month.
According to RBI:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which mainly factors in CPI-based inflation while arriving at its bi-monthly monetary policy, has been tasked by the government to keep it at 4 per cent, with a tolerance band of 2 per cent on either side.
- The CPI headline momentum is moderating, which combined with favourable base effects in the coming months could bring about a substantial softening in inflation in the near term.
- RBI has projected the CPI inflation at 5.3 per cent for 2021-22: 5.1 per cent in the second quarter, 4.5 per cent in the third; 5.8 per cent in the last quarter of the fiscal, with risks broadly balanced.
Amit Khare appointed advisor to PM Modi
Former bureaucrat Amit Khare, who last month retired as higher education secretary, has been appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for two years on contract basis. Mr Khare, a 1985 batch (retired) IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, had superannuated on September 30.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Khare as advisor to the prime minister in Prime Minister’s Office, in the rank and scale of secretary to government of India.
RBI grants banking licence to Unity Small Finance Bank
The Reserve Bank of India has granted a banking licence to Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd (USFBL), which was established jointly by the Centrum Financial Services Ltd (CFSL) and Resilient Innovations Private Limited (BharatPe), to carry on a SFB business in India. It is the first time ever that two partners are uniting equally to build a Bank. The proposed business model is one of collaboration and open architecture, uniting all its stakeholders to deliver a seamless digital experience.
RBI had accorded “in-principle” approval to CFSL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centrum Capital, on June 18 to set up a small finance bank (SFB). Centrum’s MSME and Micro Finance businesses shall be merged into Unity Small Finance Bank.
Haryana bans govt employees from participation in politics, elections
Facing farmers’ protests over new farm laws for over a year now, the Haryana government has banned the participation of its employees in politics and elections. A notification has also been issued from the office of the chief secretary in this regard while implementing Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees Conduct) Rules, 2016.
The administrative secretaries, heads of department, managing directors, chief administrators of boards, corporations, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners of Haryana, registrar of universities of Haryana and registrar (general), Punjab and Haryana High Court have been directed to ensure compliance of Rules 9 and 10 of Haryana Civil Services (Government Employees’ Conduct) Rules, 2016 in letter and in spirit. Any violation of the same should invite immediate and strict disciplinary action.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Haryana Capital: Chandigarh;
- Haryana Governor: Bandaru Dattatraya;
- Haryana Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.
